India’s Steel Exports Surge by 22% Year-on-Year in April-August 2025

India’s Steel Exports Rise by 22% in April-August 2025

India’s steel exports (including stainless steel) experienced a significant surge of 22% year-on-year in the period from April to August 2025. Preliminary data from BigMint reveals that India exported 3.2 million tons of steel during this five-month period. The growth in exports can be attributed to increased demand for hot-rolled coil (HRC), pipes, and long products, all of which showed impressive year-on-year increases.

Key Steel Export Performance

India’s steel exports saw notable gains in various product categories. Hot-rolled coil (HRC) exports rose by 12%, reaching 0.67 million tons, while pipe exports surged by 26%, amounting to 0.8 million tons. Long products also experienced a strong growth of 26%, totaling 0.29 million tons. However, exports of cold-rolled products (CRC) saw a decline of 10%, reaching just 0.19 million tons during the same period.

Despite the mixed performance across steel categories, India’s stainless steel exports increased by 2%, reaching 0.3 million tons. This growth highlights the continued strength of India’s diverse steel export portfolio, despite challenges in certain product segments.

Strong EU Demand Drives Export Growth

The European Union (EU) emerged as the largest destination for Indian steel during the first five months of 2025/2026, with exports to the region rising by 32% year-on-year to 1.37 million tons. This increase in exports to the EU can be attributed to the upcoming implementation of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). EU importers are accelerating purchases in anticipation of the potential tariffs that could be imposed under this new regulation. As a result, Indian steel producers are working to secure bookings, especially for hot-rolled steel, which remains in high demand.

However, the Middle East market for hot-rolled steel has experienced a slowdown due to seasonal factors and the increasing market share of China. Despite this, Indian producers remain optimistic about maintaining competitive pricing and meeting the growing demand in other regions, particularly the EU.

SuperMetalPrice Commentary:

India’s steel export performance highlights its growing position in the global market, with a significant shift toward increasing exports to the EU. The impending implementation of the CBAM seems to be driving EU buyers to secure steel shipments in advance. This shift, combined with India’s ambitious production targets, underscores the nation’s strategic importance in the global steel market. While the Middle East market shows signs of slowing, India’s aggressive expansion plans toward a 300 million tons per year capacity by 2030 indicate a long-term strategy for continued growth and competitiveness. Steel market participants should closely monitor these developments as they could impact global pricing trends.